A benchmark index for Indian equities on Monday closed 327 points higher, bringing it within striking distance of the 20,000-mark.
Heavyweight scrips like ITC, Hindustan Unilever and HDFC were among the top gainers. The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,445.2 points, closed at 19,922.3 points (provisional), 327.55 points or 1.67 per cent up from its previous close at 19,594.75 points.
The Sensex rose to an intra-day high of 19,927.3 points. At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty moved up 1.76 per cent to 5,988.5 points. Broader market indices also ended in the green. The BSE midcap was 0.61 per cent up and the BSE smallcap index was 0.72 per cent higher.